President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has challenged governors, ministers, and federal institutions to ensure that policy decisions produce tangible benefits for ordinary Nigerians, warning that his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda will be judged by real outcomes rather than words or resolutions.
Represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the closing session of the two-day National Economic Council (NEC) Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, President Tinubu emphasized that reforms are a continuous process requiring courage, patience, and consistency.
“Reform is not an event. It is a process. The decisions we make here must translate into visible improvements in the daily lives of Nigerians: jobs created, businesses supported, roads constructed, schools strengthened, healthcare improved and opportunities expanded,” he said.
He described the Renewed Hope Agenda as a “national commitment” that demands a shift from dialogue to delivery, aiming to build a more resilient economy, inclusive society, and stronger federation.
The President commended Vice President Kashim Shettima for his steady leadership of the NEC and thanked governors, ministers, development partners, and private-sector stakeholders for their input, stressing that disciplined implementation across all levels of government will shape the next phase of national development.
The conference, themed “Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable National Development: The Renewed Hope National Development Plan,” generated key policy recommendations on taxation, crude oil theft, security, social investment, private-sector partnerships, and constitutional reforms.
Highlights from the communiqué (read by Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Deborah Odoh):
– Sustained and expanded mandate for the NEC committee on crude oil theft to address massive revenue losses.
– Deeper collaboration between federal and state governments, private sector, civil society, and development partners to drive inclusive growth.
– Commendation for 12 states that have passed harmonised tax laws; call on 13 states with pending bills to fast-track passage, and the remaining 11 to initiate the process to eliminate multiple taxation.
– Urgent need to increase investment in education, health, and nutrition to address chronic underinvestment in human capital.
– Recognition that military operations alone cannot resolve security challenges; recommendation for non-kinetic approaches (tackling unemployment and poverty), stronger inter-agency coordination, and better alignment between state and national security frameworks.
Governors’ perspectives:
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged that conference resolutions be extended beyond government to the organised private sector and National Assembly, insisting that Nigerians will only feel impact through execution.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun hailed President Tinubu’s macroeconomic reforms—particularly the removal of foreign exchange subsidies—as critical to restoring investor confidence. He argued that years of forex intervention had distorted markets, weakened the naira, and fueled speculation far more than petrol subsidy ever did.
Abiodun noted emerging stability and renewed confidence in the forex market and in holding the naira, while stressing that macroeconomic predictability, policy credibility, and capital repatriation are essential for attracting investment. He described security as the ultimate deciding factor for sustained investor interest and welcomed the decentralisation of the power sector, revealing that Ogun State is already regulating its electricity market and pursuing a state grid.
Security discussions featured prominently, with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Police Force advocating for joint operations, intelligence sharing, community involvement, and non-kinetic measures. Minister of Defence Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd) and representatives of the Inspector-General of Police emphasized that sustainable security requires intelligence fusion, coordination, technology, governance, and development working in tandem.
The outcomes of the NEC conference are expected to feed into the implementation of the Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026-2030, with stakeholders calling for swift action to convert recommendations into measurable progress for citizens.
